Rodgers Trying To Avoid Furor

With the Brett Favre standoff still simmering, Aaron Rodgers took his place Monday as the Packers' new starting quarterback.

Rodgers is trying to ignore what has become a daily soap opera involving the three-time MVP. Favre is considering filing for reinstatement with the NFL and reporting to camp this week, a move likely intended to pressure Green Bay to grant him his release - something the Packers refuse to do - or trade him.

The NFL had not received reinstatement paperwork from Favre as of Monday evening.

"I feel like this is really between Brett and the organization, and I'm just trying to stay focused on the things I can control," Rodgers said after the team's first practice at camp.

General Manager Ted Thompson spoke twice with Favre on Saturday, for about 45 minutes each time. They decided it would be best for Favre to stay away from Green Bay for now.

"We still have not gotten to the point where we agree on what the best option is," Thompson said Monday. "We have sort of agreed to disagree, and at that time he suggested he would probably delay coming to training camp for at least a couple of days to see how things worked out."

The Packers aren't going to allow Favre to play for an NFC North rival and aren't going to trade him without getting value in return. And Favre might not want to play for any of the teams showing interest, a group that includes the Bucs and the New York Jets. Thompson acknowledged talking to other teams.

Favre wants to be released, something Thompson opposes. The Packers hold Favre's rights until his contract expires after the 2010 season.

"A release just doesn't make a lot of sense from the Packers' point of view," Thompson said.